Royal Scots Fusiliers

The Royal Scots Fusiliers

Regimental cap badge
Active 1678 - 1959
Country  Kingdom of Scotland (1678–1707)
 Kingdom of Great Britain (1707–1800)
 United Kingdom (1801–1959)
Branch British Army
Type Line Infantry
Part of Lowland Brigade
Garrison/HQ Churchill Barracks, Ayr
Insignia
Hackle White
Tartan MacKenzie Tartan

The Royal Scots Fusiliers was a Regiment of the British Army.

Contents

History

The Earl of Mar's Regiment of Foot ('Mar's Grey Breeks') (1678-1695)

The regiment was raised in Scotland in 1678 by Stuart loyalist Charles Erskine, de jure 5th Earl of Mar for service against the rebel covenanting forces during the Second Whig Revolt (1678-1679). They were used to keep the peace and put down brigands, mercenaries, and rebels. In the Glorious Revolution of 1689, the regiment was ordered south. Initially they stayed loyal to James II of England until he fled to Ireland, upon which they opted to serve Prince William of Orange. The regiment later ironically fought against the Jacobites during the Second Jacobite Rebellion (1745) at the Battle of Culloden in 1746.

The Scots Fusilier Regiment of Foot (1695-1712)

The regiment was converted to fusiliers in 1689, but didn't receive the title officially until 1695. It was nicknamed the "Duke of Marlborough's Own" for its excellent service in all of the Duke's campaigns in the War of the Spanish Succession and received the title of "Royal" in 1712.

21st (Royal North British Fusilier) Regiment of Foot (1713-1877)

The regiment was renamed the Royal North British Fusilier Regiment of Foot in 1713. It was later numbered the 21st Regiment in 1751, when seniority numbers were introduced.

21st (Royal Scots Fusiliers) Regiment of Foot (1877-1881)

The regiment finally saw the restoration of "Scots" in their title in 1877.

Childers Reforms of 1881

The regiment did not suffer the indignity of being amalgamated, as it already had two regular battalions. However, it did become the County Regiment of Ayrshire, Dumfries-shire, Kircudbrightshire, Roxburghshire, Selkirkshire, and Wigtownshire in South-West Scotland. This made them a Lowland Regiment and forced them to adopt trews. It also had to lose its numbering, becoming The Scots Fusiliers.

Amalgamations of 1959

The Scots Fusiliers was amalgamated with the Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment) in 1959 to form The Royal Highland Fusiliers, (Princess Margaret's Own Glasgow and Ayrshire Regiment). The regular 1st battalions of the two Regiments combined at Redford Barracks, Edinburgh to form the 1st battalion of the new regiment (1 RHF).

Battle honours

The Regiment was awarded the following battle honours. Those shown in bold from the two World Wars were those selected to be emblazoned on the King's Colour.

Famous Officers

References

Two histories of the Regiment have been written:

  1. The History of the Royal Scots Fusiliers 1678-1920 by John Buchan (Lord Tweedsmuir)
  2. The Royal Scots Fusiliers 1920-1959 by Colonel J C Kemp.